Page 30 of A Reckless Memory

“The horses were.”

He cocked a brow, and I couldn’t lie to myself. I might’ve brushed off his admiration before, but now it was a balm to frayed nerves. I’d competed with excellent horses, but I also knew what I was doing.

Our meal arrived just as Aggie walked through the door. The noise of the restaurant died away, and the only thing I saw was her. From where I was seated, I got a closer view than I normally did from the barn every morning.

I clocked her path after she smiled at the hostess and threaded through the tables toward the bar. She wasn’t wearing her riding coat but a long, fluffy wrap over a deep-green, long-sleeved shirt and black leggings. On her feet were ankle boots, giving her calves a sexy curve I’d never paid attention to on any woman before.

Archer’s gaze narrowed on me, and he discreetly peeked over his shoulder.

I ignored his “You sure about everything you said earlier?” look and finally took a bite of the burger, looking around as if I hadn’t been staring at Aggie and only Aggie. The food turned to dust in my mouth as soon as I saw Dr. Jake notice her arrival.

His grin was presumptuous, and he grabbed his drink to saunter over to the tall table she slid behind. She stiffened when he arrived at her table, but he planted his butt into a seat across from her anyway.

“That bastard.”

Archer turned to look again. “Who? Dr. Jake?”

“He wants to fuck her.”

“I can see that.” The humor in my brother’s voice was infuriating. This was serious. Dr. Jake was a walking, talking billboard for country-boy players. Aggie deserved more than a cowboy flirt.

“What if she wants to fuck him too?” Archer’s innocent question filled me with a righteous rage I had no business feeling.

“Is he a decent guy? I’m not asking about his job—what’s he like with women?” I knew the answer without knowing Dr. Jake. Aggie hadn’t been a girl swayed by cocky confidence and empty promises, but what if she bought into it? What if they formed a real connection and he changed his ways for her? I should be hopeful for the outcome, but it was the worst one yet.

“He’s been divorced twice. Heard he likes to add extra services onto some house calls.”

Yep. Aggie was new in town, beautiful, and single. And he made house calls.

There wasn’t a reflective surface in sight where I could see her reaction. The line of her back was relaxed again, her shoulders no longer bunched. Not a good sign for me. Was she happy? Did her eyes light up like they used to when I’d surprise her in her daddy’s stables and we’d go for a lazy morning ride?

I’d been chasing that look ever since. The sight of a woman who was truly excited to see me. Me. Not what I could do for the business or how I looked taking her around town. Someone who saw the bumpkin who had a talent for horses.

Dr. Jake beckoned the server over like he was swooping in as the hero to her neglected table.

He’d better not try to order her some fancy drink. She used to be able to throw back the shots with her brothers and was one of the few who didn’t bug the crap out of me for not drinking a lot.

Jake’s laughter carried across the restaurant. Hers was mixed in, and her shoulders shook.

I understood why breeding studs could be assholes around the same mare. I mean, I’d known it, but now I sympathized.

“Something botherin’ you?” Archer asked slyly.

“No.”

“You mean I didn’t hear you growl, and you don’t look ready to stampede through the bar? Nah.” His grin was quick. “Nothing’s botherin’ ya.”

“It’s her life.” I turned my attention back to him. Archer hadn’t touched his meal yet. Tonight was about getting to know him again, not about Aggie falling for Dr. Jake. “Tell me about the kids.”

“I don’t know if you’d be listening.” Archer chanced another look over his shoulder. “When he comes to our place, he’s a shameless flirt with Delaney. If you want to cockblock the bastard, say the word.”

Word. A thousand times word. “I’m here to see you.”

“You’re here. You can come over every damn night for supper if you want, but I can’t promise we won’t put you on meal rotation. Emmaline thinks she should go vegan because she saw it in a cartoon, and Vaden throws half his meal on the floor before he takes a bite.”

I nodded, hearing what he was saying but storing it to process later. The server deposited a glass of wheat-colored beer by Aggie. She shouldn’t be drinking around a strange man.

Realizing I was tanking tonight, I shook myself out of it. Archer was missing a night with his family to stare at me while I glowered at Dr. Jake. “Sorry. Where were we?”

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